Elite Rugby Banter

The Boks suffered another loss against their new bogey team in Perthfontein, but our panel is philosophical about the lessons learned and positive implications for selections moving forward. We also cover the first round of the URC where the SA teams went four from four, and the Imbokodo who went pizza, pasta, past her in beating higher-ranked Italy away.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant and Andy are confronted this week with a delicious menu of rugby content, from the braais and barbies in Perthfontein to the intriguing starters served up in the opening week of the URC. Did Rassie underestimate the Aussies by selecting a B team? Or is this counterintuitively a show of deep respect and a long-term World Cup play? And will Ma’a and JP inspire a Sharks renaissance or will the plucky underdog Lions be the pick of the litter this year? What of the Bulls and Stormers starting out on the road? Find out here on Elite Rugby Banter.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is finally over, and the Springboks have completed an historic inaugural series win over the All Blacks.

Phil, Ant and Dick look back on the final test and the series as a whole, as South Africa once again found a way to close out a game that felt much closer on the scoreboard than it did on the field. The Springbok bench made another huge impact, the backline survived yet another round of injuries, and the panel discusses the impressive performances of players including Hanekom, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Morne van den Berg and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

The boys then take a broader look at the series and ask just how big the gulf between the two teams really was. Despite New Zealand remaining competitive until the final stages of almost every test, South Africa controlled most of the important areas of the game — while the All Blacks' struggles at scrum, lineout and aerial ball remained throughout the tour. The panel also questions the increasingly defensive reaction from the New Zealand coaching staff, particularly their tendency to blame refereeing and other external factors rather than looking at their own performance.

And then it's awards season. The boys pick their moment, try, tackle, flop, find and player of the series, with plenty of love for Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx and Morne van den Berg — alongside a few less flattering awards for New Zealand, Angus Gardner and the tournament's rather questionable promotion.

Plus the return of Richie Mo'unga, whether the All Blacks' hype got a little ahead of reality, the unfortunate state of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry social media operation, and why three wins from four still somehow wasn't quite as comfortable as it should have been.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The Greatest Rivalry left South African shores after a rollicking few weeks of crowds, controversy, and cracking rugby. Is Roigard just a new Perenara? Did the All Blacks find set piece loopholes to cope with Bok dominance? And will they cope in the US with the impending forced and unforced changes? A full house deliberates on that and much more.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

A low-flying plane was the least of Springbok fans worries (literally, it wasn’t a big deal, calm down) as the Boks managed to close out a needlessly nervy second Test to keep the rivalry tour alive. Malcolm Marx was adjusting his brake foot like an anxious Airlink backseat pilot, while the Boks’ kick-chase was the real air show on the day. What changed between the two Tests, and how do the boys see that playing out in Test 3? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance. You’ll get it all on this week’s pod as Ant, Phil and Andy dissect the opening loss to the All Blacks. Each questionable call by refs and coaches is brought under the microscope as we process this shock result and try to look forward to the Cape of Good Hope (and possibly storms, in more ways than one). Is Pollard better employed from the bench? Can Marx go 80 again? Is PSDT ready to lead from the front and not from behind? Get your fix here at Elite Rugby Banter.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

Ant, Dick and Andy managed to gather around one microphone for once in a rare in-person pod. Yes, we covered all the expected stuff with the upcoming tour opener and a recap of the Bulls vs ABs match, but we think you’ll find our tangential rant about TMOs and technology the real highlight here… Boks by 10ish!

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We are two games into the RGR Tour (Phil has exhausted our free tokens for the full name) and the All Blacks have as many questions as they do answers. Cape Town was treated to a spectacle on and off the field against a second string side, while Durban was a damp downer against a more formidable lineup. The Boks out-gritted the Argentinians away but at the cost of their captain, while the All Blacks have also been losing men early. How will the two teams cope over the coming weeks? Who will be first choice come the Ellis Park opener on both sides? We try to channel our inner Rassie and we’re probably way off, but please have a listen anyway.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

The All Blacks are here! Confirmed by Ant in a plush Cape Town Virgin Active, the Kiwis have landed are preparing hard for the opening game against the Stormers this week. While the ABs sip cocktails in Clifton, a 26-strong Bok squad is quaffing Malbec in Buenos Aires, readying for their warm up against Argentina. There’s more antici…pation than a Rocky Horror number and more hype than an NZ rugby journo’s X account as we gear up for the Greatest Rivalry (TM CC LTD PBO).

Ant, Andrew, Phil and Dick dive into the build-up to the first test, discussing whether the famous rivalry still deserves its billing and why these fixtures continue to stand apart from every other contest in international rugby. From history and respect to contrasting styles of play, the panel explores what makes South Africa versus New Zealand the benchmark by which every other rivalry is measured.

Attention then turns to the rugby itself. Are the Springboks entering the series as deserved favourites? Has Rassie's side reached another level over the past year? And while Dave Rennie's All Blacks have shown encouraging signs, can they tighten up defensively against the most complete team in world rugby?

The boys also discuss the contrasting approaches of Super Rugby and test rugby, the role of South Africa's franchises in preparing the All Blacks for what's to come, and why this series feels like a genuine measuring stick for both teams heading into the remainder of the international season.

Plus predictions for the series, a look at the key individual battles, and why even in an era of expanded competitions and global tournaments, some matches simply matter more than others.

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.

There’s more than just bragging rights on the line when the Boks and All Blacks clash at Ellis Park in August - the winner takes the lineal world title, aka the Raeburn Shield. To discuss, we are joined this week by fellow rugby nerd and promoter of the Raeburn and Utrecht Shields, Dave Algie. Treat your ears to a fascinating deep dive into rugby history and a native Kiwi’s take on the upcoming Greatest Rivalry Tour - it’s a good one.

Raeburn Shield Link: https://www.raeburnandutrechtshields.com/

Music by @monstroid, 80s TV Show.